Vapor-burning lamp.



.PATENTBD MAR. 10,1903.

' W. MITCHELL, VAPOR BURNING LAMP.

APPLICATION I'ILEI? MAY 17. 1900.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS MITCHELL, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO THE MITCHELL GAS GENERATOR AND BURNER COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

VAPOR-BURNING LAMP.V

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,601, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed May 17, 1900. Serial No. 17,056. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States,'residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor-Burning Lamps; and Ido hereby declare the following l to be a full, clear, and exact description of the making the lamp self-supplying.

The said invention also consists in certain additional features and details of construction and combination, substantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a lamp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the mixing-tube; Fig. 3, a similar view of the mixing-tube and burner; Fig. 4., a similaiview of t'ne dome or bell; Fig. 5, a similar View of the inner iianged cylinder of the generator-casing; Fig. 6, a similar view of the generator; Fig.7, a similar view of the jet-block; Fig. 8, a similar view of the screw P, hereinafter described; Fig. 9, a view of the jet-block similar to Fig. 7, but with the discharging ends of the generating-tube fitted into the sides thereof; Fig. l0, a vertical' central section of theelongated packing-box M, hereinafter described; Fig. ll, asimilar view of the follower N, hereinafter described; Fig. l2, a detail elevation of the needle-valve; Fig. 13, a vertical central section of its operating-button; Fig. 14., a plan ofthe jet-block, and Fig. l5 a vertical central section through the jet-block.

A designates the hollow base of the lamp,

other volatile inammable iiuid and has a vertical internally-screW-threadedinlet-tube A' for gasolene, which is closed by a screwplug A2. A circular bead c on the under side of the head of this plug fits into an annular groove c' in the enlarged upper end of the said inlet-tube, which groove may be provided with packing. An air-pump extends down through the top of the said reservoir,

Vnearly to the bottom thereof, and comprises an outer casing B, having a tubular outlet b into the said receptacle, an inner cylinder B2, having an annular external collar b', which collar closes the top of the space between the said casing and cylinder, packing-rings b2 in the said space just below the said collar, a screw-cap b3, engaging external screw-threads on the upper end of the said cylinder, a piston B4, working in the latter, a piston-rod b4, extending from said piston up through the said cap and provided with a knob b5 at its upper end, and an outlet-valve B', confined in a cage B6 under the lower end of the said cylinder and automatically closing against the outlet-opening b of the latter under the pressure ofa spring o7 when the pressure of the said piston ceases.. C designates the tubular stem of the lamp, fitted to the center of the top ofthe said base or reservoir and having an outlet'branch or nipple c' screwed through its side near its base. A screw-threaded cutoff needle-valve C,working through a stuiingbox c2, which constitutes a cap for this branch or nipple and incloses packing o3, opens or closes at will this outlet. A branch passage c4, extending upward from the bore of the said nipple, receives thelower end of a vertical tubeD, which' supplies at thel bottom a U-shaped passage c, formed in an upright frame or casting E, having at its upper end two stuffing-boxes E', through which the ends of the double cylindrical generating-coil F make lconnectionwith the two upward ends of the said passage and receive the gasolene therefrom. The said generator consists of two equal sections of tubing wound in reverse directions. At the bottom of the inner coil, which is the middle point of this coiled tube, the inner ends of the two sections thereof enter the opposite ends of a transverse passage g in the jet-block G, which has a jet-hole or outlet-hole g2 communicating with and supplied by the said passages, which thus complete the tubular generator. The said jetblock is also the base for the said generator and proximate parts. A needle-valve Lworking through said jet-hole g2, serves to cut off or open the flow of the vaporized gasolene to the burner. The double cylindrical coils of the said generator are inclosed between the two concentric walls of a double cylindrical casing H, which supports a convex burner J. On the said jet-block, above the said outlethole, a small mixing-tube K, of cylindrical form with daring base, is mounted, its upper end not reaching to the said burner. A dome or bell L is suspended by a small screw or rivet Z' from the center of the burner and has its sides extended downward to a point somewhat above the flaring part of the said mixing-tube, the main parts of the said mixing-tube and dome being concentrically arranged and leaving passages between them at top and bottom'for the flow of the vaporized gasolene, which is thus compelled to follow a prolonged path, doubling upon itself within the said generator, the same proceeding rst up through the mixing-tube, then down through the space between the mixingtube and the bell, then up through the space between the bell or dome and the generatorcasing, and finally out through the burner. As the cylindrical spaces above referred to are very thin, the superheating of the said vapor will be extreme before it actually bursts into ame, so that very few particles of it can escape perfect combustion, and the light-giving power of the lamp will be at the maximum. To further insure this eect, the said burner has a small downward cylindrical extension or annular flange J', which fits within the upper end of the generator-casing and against the inner wall thereof. The intense heat communicated to the burner by the flame will of course be conducted by said flange or extentension to the said casing and by the latter to the generating-coil and the gasolene undergoing vaporization within the same. In constructing the said coil I use two pieces, each fifty inches in length, of copper tubing five thirty-seconds of an inch in outside diameter and three thirty-seconds of an inch in inside diameter, these proportions and the construction above dened being found essential to satisfactory automatic feeding under pressure, such as has been before referred to and will be hereinafter described. I wind the two pieces at the same time, beginning at the bottom and winding up to the top and then back over the first winding, leaving the ends h', as shown in Fig. 6, ready to [it into the jet block. This coil is made secure with binding wire, so that it cannot unwind. Then I hard-solder the coil to the tube H', Fig. 5, which constitutes the inner wall of the generator-casing, and has an annular flange h at its top extending horizontally outward to the outer wall of said casing and resting on the top thereof, the said iiange also serving as a base for the said burner. While soldering the inner coil to the tube, I also solder both of the generator-coils and all the individual windings thereof together. I then insert the jet-block-G, before mentioned and shown in Fig. 7, and fit the outlet ends h', Fig. 6, into the end of the passage g and hardsolder them in, as indicated in Fig. 9, making the jet-block fast in the same way. The said jet-block, as shown in Fig. 14, has a bore g extending from the middle of the passage g to the lower end of a downwardly-presented externallythreaded stem Gr' of the said block, said bore being in line with the before-mentioned outlet-openingg2. The said stem is screwed into the upper end of an elongated packing-box M, which is fitted into an opening in the upper end of frame E and into a fixed tubular upward extension or collar E2, concentric with the said opening. A` screw E3, passing through the side of the said extension or collar, clamps the said stuffingbox in place. This box incloses a packing m, of mixed soap and asbestos, and is screwtapped at its lower end to receive a screwthreaded follower N, which is centrally bored in line with the bore of the said stem. The lower part of the bore fn. of the said follower is enlarged and screw-threaded, as shown at N', to receive a screw-threaded stem 0, which is integral with the operating-button O of the needle-valve, the latter being provided with a spherical head I', which tits in the upper end of a recess O', formed centrally in the said button from the under side upward, a reduced bore 02, as shown in Fig. 13, extend- ICO ing upward from the same to the upper end of the stem 0. The wall of this recess is screw-threaded to receive a screw P, which prevents the said needle-valve, Figs. l and l2, from dropping out. The said valve extends through the said stem 0, the follower N, the stuffing-box M, the stem G', and the jet-block and is advanced or withdrawn by the turning of the button O, so as to open or close the j et-hole or outlet-hole g2, the shape of the valve-head and the proximate part of the button preventing the turning of the latter from turning said needle-valve also, which obviates the risk of injuring the point of the valve by twisting the same and causing undue strain and friction. From the lower end of frame E an externally-screwthreaded tube F.5 extends downward, being screwed into a solid cap Q, which closes the upper end of the tubular stem C of the lamp aforesaid. This tube incloses a filtering mass R of suitable comminuted material, surmounted by a screen S, which prevents such material from gettinginto the passage e,an externally-screwthreaded plug or follower T, having a central bore t, serving to keep said material in place and to compress the same, if necessary, by :reason of its engagement with internal screwthreads c3, formed in the lower end of the IIO said tube. A pipe U is hard-soldered at the upper end into the bore of the said plug or otherwise rigidly secured to or formed with the same. This pipe extends .down nearly to the bottom of the reservoir A.

V designates a chimney-supporting balcony or gallery surrounding the upper part of the generator and resting on collar or upward extension E2 ofv frame E. Its base u ts closely around stung-box M aforesaid. A small collar or clamping band u', surrounding the upper end of said stuffing-box, holds said base to the top of said extension E2. The said gallery or balcony is provided near its middle with a horizontal partition U', having a series of openings u2 formed therein, and the side wall of the said gallery has also aseries of openings 11.3, while a hole co4, formed in the side wall below said partition, admits air to the bottom space ui", providing for more or less upward and outward draft through the openings aforesaid, to the end that the chimney may not be overheated where it is nearest the generator and burner.

From the side of the frame E, at the upper end thereof, a lug or arm E4 extends laterally, having a vertical bore or socket e4 to receive the stem or support of a mantle which is clamped in place by a screw W, working inward through the screw-tapped end of the said lug or arm.

The jet-block G is provided near its periphery with a series of air-holes fc, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, which may be closed at will by plugs of packingy, as shown in Fig. 1, to regulate the amount of draft up through the inner chimney K and the supply of oxygen to the inflammable vapor within the generator and before the delivery of said vapor to the burner.

After soldering the generator-coil as hereinbefore described the balcony is applied to the packing-box M, Figs. 1 and 12, as before stated. I next screw in the jet-block supporting said generator-coil and put the follower N, Fig. 1l, in place, not turning it all the way home, there being packing enough to tightly fit the needle-valve without such compression. Should there be leakage subsequently at this point, the said follower, having a square head, can then be easily turned farther in, thus tightening the packing on the rod. After putting the follower in place the rod or needle-valve, Fig. 12, is inserted in the button, Fig. 13, as before described, and the screw P, Fig. 14, is turned into place, as shown in Fig. 1. The said needle-valve is then passed up through the follower, jetblock, and stuffing-box, and the stem of the button is screwed into the follower N, completing the lamp, the frame having been already screwed into the cap of the stem. The said frame being open at the sides allows the said button to be easily manipulated.

The operation of the lamp is as follows: The hollow base or reservoir being iilled with oil of an easily-evaporizable character to the level of the lower end of the inlet, the cap of the latter is closed. The air-pump, before described, is then operated to give about twenty pounds air-pressure within said reservoir. As the tubular outlet `b of the said pump discharges downward, the air issuing therefrom stirs up the gasolene, vaporizing a part of it and lling with vapor the space above the said liquid within the said reserf voir or base. The cut-off needle-valve C' is then turned to let the vapor up through the tube D and passage e to the tubular coil-generator F, the needle-valve I being also withdrawn from the jet-hole g2 by turning its button or knob O, as aforesaid. The vapor issuing through said jet-hole follows the devious path already described within the generator and escapes through the burner, where it is ignited. It is allowed to burn for a few minutes, when the generator-coil becomes hot. The cut-off needle-valveV C is then closed. The pressure of the air and vapor within the reservoir above the liquid then forces the latter up through the tube U to the generator-coil, the heat of which vaporizes it and keeps the lamp burning. The very high temperatn re of the generator, due to the special construction and proportions hereinbefore described and also to the conduction of heat from the burner to the casing H, as aforesaid, and to the dome L, extending far down within said generator and radiating heat on every side, causes a very great expansion of the gasolene or other 1iquid during vaporization and. produces more vapor than is completely consumed. This excess of vapor passes down through passage e and tube U into the said reservoir in sufficient quantity to drive up the liquid to the generator by its pressure within said reservoir on the surface of the said liquid. The lamp is thus self-supplying with inammable vapor, requiring only to have the reservoir replenished from time to time with liquid fuel and the generator started by the operation of the air-pump, the small tube D, and any suitable means of ignition whenever the upper part of the lamp has been allowed to cool after going out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A vapor-burning lamp provided with a reservoir, a generator supplied thereby, located above the said reservoir and having sufficient generating capacity to generate vapor in excess of what the burner can consume, a burner supplied by the said generator, and a tube or passage arranged and adapted to conductthe inammable fluid from the reservoir to the generator and also to conduct back from the generator to the reservoir the excess of vapor produced by the said generator beyond what the burner can consume, in order that the liquid may be forced by the pressure loo IIc

of said excess of vapor upto the generator and burner, substantially as set forth.

2. A coiled tubular generator, having inlets at both ends and consisting of two sections separated at the middle of the said generator, in combination with a jet-block having a jet-hole which is the outlet of the said generator and also provided with a transverse passage receiving in its ends the inner ends of the two generator-sections and supplying the said jet-hole, a burner supplied through the latter, and a reservoir having tubular communication with the said terminal inlets, substantially as set forth.

3. A tubular generator in the form of adouble, concentric, cylindrical coil and consisting of two sections separated at the middle of the said generator, in combination with a jetblock havinga jet-hole which is the outlet of the said generator and also provided with a transverse passage receiving in its ends the inner ends of the two generator-sections and supplying the said jet-hole, a burner supplied through the latter and a reservoir having tubular communication with the generator, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a burner of a generator comprising coils wound in the form of a double cylinder and consisting of two separate sections, means for supplying liquid fuel to the outer ends of the said sections which are also the outer ends of the outer coil or cylinder, a jet-block arranged at the middle of the inner coil or cylinder and receiving the inner ends of the two sections Vof the generator, said jet-block being also provided with a jet-hole discharging into the space within the cylinder and with a valve controlling the said jet-hole, substantially as set forth.

- 5. In combination with a generating-coil and a burner arranged above the same, a casing inclosing the said coil and supporting the said burner, a jet-block supporting the said casing, a mixing-tube supported on the said jet-block and a dome or bell suspended from the said burner and extended down concentrically outside of the said mixing-tube, space being left forlthe passage of infiammable vapor around the upper end of the said mixingtube and the lower end of the said dome in order that the vapor may follow a devious course within the said generator before escaping through the said burner, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with a generator in the form of a hollow cylinder, a burner supported thereon, a dome or bell attached to the said burner and extending down within the generator to the lower part thereof, a mixingtube extending up within the said dome or bell, a jet-block supporting the said generator and provided with a jet-hole adapted to receive vapor therefrom and discharge it into the lower part of the space within the said generator, and means for supplying Vaporizable oil to the said generator for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination with a burner and coiled generator, a frame forming a part of the lampsupport and provided with a U-shaped passage communicating at its upper ends with the two receiving ends of the generator and having an opening in its bottom, an oil-reservoir, and a pipe making communication between the said reservoir and the said passage through the said opening, in order that after lighting the burner and heating the generator there may be a dow of inflammable oil up through the said tube and a downward flow of superheated and highly-expansible vapor also through the said tube, this vapor supplying automatically the pressure within the reservoir which keeps up the oil-supply, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination witha burner and a generator supplying the same, a frame provided with a U-shaped Vpassage supplying inflammable duid to both receiving ends of the said generator and having two openings in its bottom, two pipes'extending independently down to the said reservoir, a valve controlling the supply of vapor from the upper end of the said reservoir to the said-passage through one of the said pipes and an air-pump discharging downwardly upon the liquid in the said reservoir so as to stir up the liquid and vaporize a small part of it which will ascend,

when the said valve is opened, through the said pipe and passage to the said generator and burner for the purpose of starting the lamp and heating the generator, the other pipe, after the lamp is thus started and the said valve has been closed, serving to allow the downward flow of highly-expansible vapor and upward iiow of inflammable, vaporizable fluid under the pressure of said vapor, Whereby the lamp is made continuously self-supporting, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with a generator and burner, a jet-block provided with a jet-hole which is supplied by the said generator and discharges into the said burner, a needlevalve controlling the said jet-hole and provided at its outer end with a spherical head, a button or knob recessed to receive the said head and provided with means for preventing the valve from dropping out, a relatively fixed part internally screw-threaded to engage the external threads of the stem o of the said button in order that the said valve may be withdrawn or advanced for opening or closing the said jet-hole, by turning the said button in one direction or the other at will, while the valve is left free from turning with said button, avoiding injury to the valvepoint, substantially as set forth.

IO. In combination with a generator and burner, a jet-block supporting the same and provided with a downwardly-extending screwthreaded stem, a frame provided with an opening at its upper end and a concentric tubu- IIO lar extension raised above the said opening, an internally-screw-threaded stung-box fastened into the said opening and extension and receiving the said stem, a chimney-supporting balcony fitting about the upper part of the said stufng-box and resting on the said extension and a clamping-ring surrounding the upper end of the said stuffing-box and holding the said balcony in place, substantially as set forth.

ll. In combination with the base of a lamp constituting a reservoir for inflammable liquid, a tubular stem communicating with the upper part of the said reservoir, an internallyscrew-threaded cap closing the same, a frame provided with a tubulardownward part which screws into the said cap and with a passage which communicates with the said tubular downward part, a filter within the latter, a pipe extending downward from the said filter to the lower part of the said reservoir, means for holding the said pipe and ilter in place, a generating-coil supplied by the said passage and a burner supplied by the said generating-coil, substantially as set forth.

l2. In combination with a burner and a reservoir for inflammable, easily-vaporizable liquid, a generator consisting of two concentric,

cylindrical generating-coils of copper tubing about five thirty-seconds of an inch in internal diameter, the total length thereof being about one hundred inches, a jet-block communicating with the lower part of the inner coil and provided with a jet-hole through which the vapor passes to the burner and a bifurcated channel of communication from the said reservoir to the two receiving ends of the said generator, constructed and operated substantially asset forth.

13. In combination with a burner and a reservoir for inflammable, easily-vaporizable liquid, a generator consisting of two continuous, concentric, cylindrical coils of tubing, a jetblock communicating with the inner coil and provided with a jet-hole through which the vapor passes to the burner-,land a bifurcated channel of communication from the said reservoir to the two receiving ends of the said generator, constructed and operated substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, WILLIS MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

OTIS EDDY, WEBSTER TILEsToN. 

